3 Days and 2 Nights, Homestay and Camping in the Aral Sea

Welcome to the Aral Sea! For those that have yet to hear about this fascinating phenomenon, the Aral Sea was less than 50 years ago home to the 4th largest body of water on Earth! However due to environmental factors and human interference, the Sea began to recede at an alarming rate and now is home to a desolate, post apocalyptic landscape. Where water once was has now been replaced with thick blankets of salt stretching to the horizon and a particularly incredible area known as the 'shipyard graveyard' features countless abandoned boats rusting away in the dry winds of the Aral! So incredible in fact that this was featured in Pink Floyd's last ever music video for "Louder than Words" in 2014,

Don't miss this once in a lifetime experience in your trip to Kazakhstan by staying at our local homestay in just outside of Aralsk. Immerse yourself in authentic Kazakhstani living and find out more about the once bustling port town from the locals. Feast on wholesome home cooked foods, play with the cows and the camels, and watch the sun setting on the arid landscape of the Aral and the stars rising in the cloudless Summer night!

Day 1: Pick up from Aralsk Train Station and drive to homestay to drop off your bags. Local familiarization with the town and a visit to the local museum on the edge of where the Aral Sea used to be. After, we set foot for the first time into the Aral, where you can see the abandoned infrastructure of a port and the extensive environmental damage. You will get to drink mineral water from a water geyser further in the Sea! For lunch we will have local samsa and tea back in Aralsk. For the evening we will return to our homestay where you will be able to see how people live in a remote country town. We will then show you a salt plain and a location where salt is harvested and treated, followed by evening dinner and then relaxing for the night.

Day 2: After having breakfast we will drive 65km along a barren landscape to the Shipyard Graveyard. Once there, you will be able to come close to and climb these abandoned ships and immerse yourself in the post-apocalyptic landscape that makes you feel like you've been transported to another world. It's no wonder Pink Floyd chose this as as a location for their music video; a perfect area for us to have lunch. We will then drive out to Kokaral Dam where you can see what is left of the Aral Sea! We will set up camp here for the night and enjoy the landscape whilst having dinner and finishing up with beer and vodka around the campfire!

Day 3: After having breakfast at the Dam, we make our journey back to the homestay where you can relax and refresh yourself. We will have some tea and lunch here, and you can play with the farm cow and camels! After renergising, we will drop you off back at the Aralsk Train Station.

Tour inclusive of:- English speaking guide- Fuel and driver- Homestay and prepared food (please let us know if you have dietary requirements!)

Tour not inclusive of: - Tickets to and from Aralsk- Alcoholic beverages

latest review

Ilyas was very helpful by organizing everything. He was not in Aralsk himself, but he has lots of friends there. Had some doubts at first, but after all everything turned out well. He really knows the region and neighborhood and can recommend where to go and what to do.